Experimental boat-model.



M. HOVHANNESSIAN.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910.

1,033,699. Patented July 23, 1912,

6 SHEETSSHEET 1.

COLUMIHA PLANUGRAI'H c0.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

M. HOVHANNESSIAN.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 5, 1910. 1,033,699. Patented July 23, 1912.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

rt zm coLumilA PLANOGKZAVH co..\\'AsulNG'roN. n c,

M. HOVHANNESSIAN. EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910.

Patented July 23, 1912.

6 BHEETS SHEET 3 k m I Tt m I 2 III I I I G: II s I 5 k; K; KL' &: gar 557 IJ I" 1 *4 LI- I COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00-. WASHINGTON, D. c.

M. HOVHANNBSSIAN.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION TILED NOV. 5, 1910.

Patented July 23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH 60.,WASHINIJ10N. D. e.

M. HOVHANNESSIAN. EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910.

1,033,699. Patented July 23, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

1 ge a Ex Q R a PH CCLIWASHINGTON D c M. HOVHANNESSIAN.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT MODEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1910' Patented July 23, 1912.

6 SHBETSSHEET 6.

FEE.

MEGERDICI-I HOVI-IANNESSIAN,

OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPERIMENTAL BOAT-MODEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1912.

Application filed November 5, 1910. Serial No. 590,859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MEGERDIOH HovHAN- NESSIAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Experimental Boat-Models, of which the following is aspecification.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art it is at present thecustom before building a vessel of any size to make a scale model of thesame and test it to determine its various characteristics, and althoughit is possible to cutaway or add to portions of such a model to vary itsshape in order to secure certain result-s, the model itself, as well asthe necessary alterations, are rela tively expensive. WVhen it isfurther noted that each vessel designed frequently requires a number ofmodels which afterward have little or no value and usually are not againused, the advance attained by my invention, which relates to a device ofthis particular class, will be appreciated.

One object of the invention, therefore, is to provide an experimentalboat model which may be adjusted at will to vary the dimensions of itstransverse sections, and thereby alter the shape of a single model sothat it may be employed as the basis for the test and design of anynumber of vessels of widely different characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable boat modelwhich shall include means for varying the width and relative shape orcontour as well as the proportions of its various parts; theconstruction being substantially and relatively inexpensive as well asconvenient to adjust.

A further object of my invention is to provide an experimental boatmodel, which in addition to-being provided with means whereby the shapeof its transverse section may be adjusted at any desired point, shallhave a shell or skin of such a nature as to automatically accommodateitself to these changes of shape; the invent-ion also contemplating theprovision of means whereby this shell or skin shall be caused to take agradual curve at such points on the surface of the hull as may requirethis.

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter setforth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which 5-Figure 1, is a side elevation of an experimental boat model constructedaccording to my invention; Fig. 2, is a plan of the model shown in Fig.1; Fig. 3, is a transverse section on 'an enlarged scale, illustratingin detail certain of the features comprising my invention; Fig. 4, is afragmentary plan of the structure shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, is a sideelevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3, with the shell andsheathing removed; Fig. 6, is a side elevation of the bow of a modelconstructed according to my invention showing certain of the devices foradjusting its transverse dimensions; the shell and sheathing beingremoved. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bow of a modelconstructed according to my invention, showing the detail constructionof certain portions of the sheathing; Fig. 7'" is a transverse sectionof one of the strip reinforcing pieces; Fig. 8, is a plan of the bow endof the keel showing the means of attaching the shell thereto; Figs. 9and 10 are respectively a plan and a side elevation showing the detailconstruction of a portion of the forward end of the keel; Figs. 11 and12 are transverse sections of the structure shown in Fig. 9, and Figs.13 to 2a are views illustrating the detail construction of certain ofthe various elements employed as parts of my invention.

In the above drawings the main portion of the supporting frame consistsof a length 1 (if material preferably of T-section bent so that itsforward end has the general form of the outline of the stem and itsopposite end the outline of the stern of a boat, while its mainhorizontal portion is straight and lies immediately above the keel. Thetops of the upwardly projecting ends of this main frame are connected bya horizontal bar 2 also of T-section, and at definite intervals betweenthe stem and stern of the model, this bar and the member 1 of the.

frame are connected by vertical pairs of angles 3; it being understoodthat the various parts of said frame are rigidly c0nneoted together byrivets or otherwise.

Each pair of angles 3 has fixed toit a vertically placed transverselyextending plate 4; so mounted that its ends terminate some distance fromthe sides of the proposed boat model, while its lower edge likewiseterminates some distance above the bottom thereof. It will thus beunderstood that the frame so far described consists of a centralvertical, longitudinally extending frame having the general outline ofthe central longitudinal section of the proposed model and provided witha number of parallel transversely extending plates. To the outer edgesof each of these plates 4 I fix angle plates 5, holding these adjustablyin position by means of bolts 6; there being provided an elongatedhorizontally extending slot in each plate 5 for each bolt so as topermit of it being moved toward and from the central plane of the model.In addition each of the plates 4 has a vertically extending slot 7 foreach of the bolts 6 so that said plate may likewise be moved up or downto a limited extent. For the pur poses of this adjustment I attach tothe outer of each pair of these bolts the lower end of a bolt 45 whichextends upwardly and through a bracket 46 at the upper part of the plate4. These bolts are threaded at their upper ends and provided with jamnuts as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive.

Mounted adjacent the bottom edge of each plate 4 and projecting towardthe bottom of the model are two other angle plates 8 held to said plate4 by bolts 9; there being formed horizontally elongated slots in theplates 8 and also curved substantially vertical slots in the plate 4 forthe reception ofsaid bolts; the curves of these latter slots beingpreferably struck from a point lying in the central plane of the model.

Ad'jacent each of the plates 4 and adjust ably hung from a bolt 10mounted in the top frame member 2 is a vertically extending bar 11rigidly held in position under normal conditions by bolts 12 passingbetween the angles 3 and through suitable openings in the plate 4.Slacking off of these bolts 12, however, permits the moving up or downof this bar 11 by means of the adjusting screw 10. Said bar hasextending through it a number of parallel horizontally placed adjustingscrews 18, each provided with collars on either side of the bar 11 and asquare portion 14 whereby it may be revolved in said bar as a bearingwhile being held from longitudinal movement. Their outer ends arethreaded and have mounted on them cylindrical sleeves 15 slidable in andguided by those portions of the angle plates 5 which extendv at rightangles to the plate 4'. The outer end of each of the sleeves 15 isprovided with an enlarged portion 16 having a shoulder 17 and a jam nut17 for the reception of a head 18 which may be described as of asubstantially H-shaped section whose two parallel members have each oneend extended inwardly to fit between the shoulder 17 and said nut 17 ofone of the enlargements 16.

Each angle plate 8 (Fig. 3) has fixed to it a series of substantiallyU-shaped pieces 19 each having pivotally attached to it a block 20;there being, also blocks 21 pivotally mounted in the outer portion ofeach of the heads 18. All of the blocks 20 and 21 supported by any oneof the series of bolts 13 and pieces 19 belonging to one of the plates4, are grooved or recessed for the reception of a flexibleshell-supporting rib 22 formed of a number of relatively thin flexiblebands preferably made of steel. and extending down one side of themodel, across the bottom thereof and up the opposite side, as shown. Fastened outside of and parallel with each of these flexible ribs is aflexible strip 23 made with its edges gently curved or beveled inwardlyfrom a central vertical transverse plane. pon these flexible strips ismounted the sheathing proper of my boat model and this consists of aseries of thin and relatively flexible strips 25 each extending in apractically continuous length from one end of the model to the other,although, as a matter of fact, each of them may be made in a number ofsections suitably connected. Said sheathing strips moreover are spacedapart as shown in Fig. 7 and in addition to being connected to theencircling strips 23 by screws or otherwise, they are provided at two ormore points where they curve more or less abruptly with re-inforcingelements 27. Each of said elements is preferably made of sheet metal ofchannel shaped section having a longitudinally extending recess oropening co-inciding with a similar slot in the sheathing strip, for thereception of a screw by which this latter strip is held to, the adjacentencircling strip 23. By this means a limited longitudinal movement ofthe sheathing strips is permitted relatively to the encircling strips 23and in order to facilitate the bending or curving of the sheathingstrips as well as reinforce them, the side portions of these reinforcingelements 27 are kerfed or notched as indicated at 28, although in somecases this may not be necessary. The composition of these sheathingstrips is of course immaterial and while I preferably make them of wood,it is obvious that other materials may be employed without departingfrom my invention. Over these sheathing strips 25 and constituting theshell of my boat model, I provide a covering 29 of flexible elasticmaterial such as thin sheet rubber or the like; this having a relativelysmooth surface, capable of conforming to the outline of the vessel asdefined by the various strips and their supporting ribs, and of suchproportions as to be capable of accommodating itself without wrinl'clingto changes in the dimensions of the various parts of the boat.

WVhile the outside shell'or covering 29 of the vessel may be held inplace by various means,

I preferably accomplish this end either by stretching it over thesurface provided by thesheathing strips 25, although at the bow andstern I preferably hold it in place screws 31 by the means illustratedin Fig. 8, using a wedge shaped bar kept in position by whereby saidrubber shell or covering is confined in a wedge shaped recess in the endmembers of the frame.

At the bow and stern where the width of the boat model is so small as torender the parts shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 unsuitable for itsadjustment, 1 provide the devices shown in Figs. 6 and 21 to 24inclusive. For this purpose I mount between the upper and lower framemembers 2 and 1,

1 a vertical post 33, providing it with a series of openings whose axeslie parallel to the general line of the boat. In each of these openings1 mount a short rod 34 which is held from turning by a key or otherdevice and which has fixed to one of its projecting ends a short crosspiece 35. To each of the ends of the cross piece is pivoted a lever 36having at one end a head 37, which with the other similar heads lying inthe same transverse plane of the boat model, serves to support one ormore of the flexible ribs 22 and a flexible encircling strip 23 to whichthe longitudinal sheathing strips are fastened as before described. Theopposite ends of the levers 36 are provided with any suit-able devicewhereby they may be turned at will on their pivot pins 38 and for thispurpose I have provided an adjusting screw 39 having right and left handthreaded portions respectively passing through nuts 40 movablyiattachedto the levers 36. The screw 39 has mounted upon it between the two nuts40 a wheel 41 preferably resting upon the bar 34 whereby it may beturned at will for the purposes of the above adjusts ment.

Connecting that part of the frame 1 which forms the keelshown in Fig. 8with the main portion thereof, which as above in dicated is of T-shapedsection, is a portion illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive consistingof two bars 42 mounted so as to lie at an angle to each other and serveas a transition structure between the sharp edged and substantiallyvertical bow, and the flat under. portion of the member 1. For thepurpose of adjusting the angle of these two pieces I provide them withlugs 43 and 44 designed to be drawn together or allowed to be spreadapart by any suitable device such as the ordinary bolt shown, a rightand left hand thread screw or the like.

In some instances the adjustable sleeves 15 with their attached partsmay be constructed and arranged as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, in whichcase the head 18 is of the modified form shown and results in ashortening of its general length.

It will be understood that while the longitudinal mid ship section ofthe boat model is unalterable, its transverse dimensions may be variedwidely within predetermined limits, it being obvious that the lines ofthe sides of the boat may be altered by adjusting the various rods orbars 13 to vary the relative distances at which the heads 18, andtherefore the various portions of the ribs and strips mounted thereon,lie from the central plane of the boat. The shape of each rib andconsequently the contour of that portion of the shell of a boat adjacentthereto may be varied as desired by manipulating these bars, andsimilarly, by shifting the position of the bolts 9 in their variousslots, the forms of the bottom portions of the ribs and of the adjacentportions of the shell may also be altered. Other adj ustments may bemade by slacking the bolts 6 and moving the angle plates 5 in or out orup or down as desired, the rubber covering forming the shell stretchingto permit of an increase in the dimensions or contracting when any partof the structure is drawn to-' ward the central plane of the boat.

From the above description, it will be obvious that a singleexperimental boat equipped with my invention may have its shape, asdetermined by its transverse dimensions, varied within all of the limitsrequired in practice, so that a single model may be made to serve forthe design of any number of boats.

It is to be understood that under certain circumstances I may providebut a portion of the boat model with means for adjusting its shape ortransverse section, as for example, the break water alone of the modelmay be made as illustrated in the drawings so as to permit of itsadjustment to suit various forms or shapes of the bow. The means foraccomplishing this end are the same as have heretofore been describedand constitute part of my invention; it being understood that my claimsare to be interpreted with this understanding.

I claim 1. The combination in a variable boat model, of a flexibleshell, and a series of in dependently adjustable devices within theshell whereby the shape of the shell can be transversely varied andrigidly maintained to give said model any of a number of differentcontours.

2. An experimental boat model having a frame including transversemembers;means for adjusting and rigidly maintainingthe lengths of saidtransverse members; and an elastic shell mounted on said members.

3. An experimental boat model having a supporting frame includingrelatively flexible ribs; an elastic shell mounted on said ribs; andadjustable means for altering the shape of said ribs and for rigidlyholding them in any given shape to give said shell any of a number ofdifferent operative forms.

4. An experimental boat model consisting of a supporting frame includinga series of substantially parallel flexible ribs; a flexible shellmounted on the ribs; and longitudinally adjustable members for varyingthe shapes of said ribs and rigidly retain.- ing them in any adjustedshape to give said shell any of a number of diflerent operative forms.

. 5. An experimental boat model consisting of a central longitudinallyextending supporting frame; a plurality of series of longitudinallyadjustable, transversely extending bolts carried by said central frame;a flexible rib carried by each series of the belts; and a flexible shellsupported on said? r1 s.

6. An experimental boat model consisting of a frame having a series ofribs mount ed in substantially parallel transverse planes; sheathingmounted on said ribs; a flexible shell mounted on said sheathing; andmeans for adjusting and rigidly re taining the sheathing and the shellto give the same any of a number of different contours.

7. The combination in an experimental boat model of a frame; a series ofribs therefor mounted in substantially parallel planes; a sheathingcomposed of a series of longitudinally extending strips adjustablyconnected to said ribs so as to be free to move longitudinallyrelatively thereto; and a shell mounted on the sheathing.

8. The combination in an experimental boat model of a frame; a sheathingmounted thereon and consisting of a series of sub.-v stantially parallelstrips of flexible material adjustably connected to the frame so as tobe free to move longitudinally rela-. tively thereto; and a flexibleshell over saidv sheathing.

9. The combination in an experimental boat model of a frame including akeel having tWo members at an angle to each other and capable ofadjustment to vary said angle; With a sheathing; and means for adjustingthe contour of said sheathing and Copies of this patent may be obtainedrOr'HivJQQaa Washingt rigidly retaining it in any of its adjustedpositions to vary the transverse dimensions of the model.

10. The combination in an experimental boat model of a frame including asupport: ing structure; a series of transversely extending plates fixedto said structure; ribs carried by said plates; a flexible sheathingmounted on said ribs; and means for ad-v justing the shapes of the ribsand rigidly holding them in any of a number of adjusted shapes to givethe sheathing a num: ber of different contours.

T m n n n xper men al boat model of a main supporting structure; aseries of transversely extending structures structures; adjustablescrews operative on said sleeves; ribs connected to the sleeves; asheathing mounted upon the various ribs;- yvit'h a. flexible shellmounted on said sheath: m

32. The combination in experimental boat model of a supportingstructure; a number of series of heads mounted thereon; adjusting meansfor moving and rigidly retaining said heads at any given distances fromthe central longitudinal plane of the structure; a rib pivotallyattached to the heads of each series; With a shell mounted on said ribs.13. The combination in an experimental boat model of a supportingstructure; a plurality of series of heads mounted there,- on; adjustablemeans for rigidly retaining said heads at any given distances from thecentral longitudinal plane of the structure; a flexible rib movablyconnected to each of the series of heads; and a flexibleshell mounted onsaid ribs.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification; inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

MEGERDICH HO VHANNESS IAN,

Witnesses:

BROWN, Jr., WILLIAM E. BRADLEY.

each, b y a qdressing the Gommissioper of @Patents,

on, I). c.

mounted thereon; sleeves carried by the said

